Per Diem LPN

RNs and LPNs 
Reports to: Supervisor 

Position: 
- Responsible for day-to-day resident and nursing care on the unit.  
- Must be a role model of customer service principles. 
- Consistently monitors and implements quality improvement efforts. 
- Ensures that the unit functions according to accepted facility quality standards. 
- Assumes responsibilities of the Charge Nurse in his/her absence. 

Qualifications: 
- Possess a valid and current RN or LPN/LVN state license. 
- Gerontological nursing experience preferred.  
- Possesses verbal and written communication skills. 
- Ability to supervise nursing staff. 
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend and squat for prolonged periods. 
- Ability to push and pull objects and lift and carry up to 20 pounds unassisted on a frequent basis (occasionally up to 50lbs, unassisted). 
- Full use of gross and fine motor of the upper and lower extremities (I.e., treatments, dressing changes, medications, administration, writing notations, operating bed wheel locks, etc.).  
- Ability to read thermometers, charts and testing equipment. 

Responsibilities: 
- Participates in the day-to-day resident care activities. 
- Provides for the delivery of professional nursing care in accordance with state licensure laws (I.e. resident conditions, treatments, tracheotomy care, tube feedings, IVs, etc.).  
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, and facility guidelines that govern the nursing center. 
- Ensures that the resident care policies and procedures are followed by nursing service personnel in compliance with each facility Quality Standards. 
- Continually observes and assesses residents on the assigned unit and makes appropriate nursing decisions. 
- Completes and/or assures completion of required forms (I.e., nursing assessment, medication administration record, treatment records, pressure ulcer and wound/skin condition evaluation reports, Medicare documentation, physicians’ orders, acuity trends, etc.). 
- Identifies resident care problems and concerns, contributes to short term goal-setting and nursing approaches on the care plan. Informs and includes residents in their plan of care (I.e., medications, treatments, etc.). 
- Ensures that nursing care approaches are communicated to and implemented by nursing unit staff. Communicates with nursing staff throughout the shift. 
- Recognizes resident/health care facility situations, problem-solves, and communicates to the appropriate individual(s). 
- Ensures that medications and controlled substances are administered and documented in accordance with state regulations and facility policies and procedures. 
- Communicates significant changes in residents’ condition to physicians and, if appropriate, to family. 
- Ensures effective documentation of residents’ status, including the resident record, shift-to-shift report, accident/incident report, alert charting, etc. Or any other charting mechanism utilized by the health care facility. 
- All other duties reasonably assigned. 

Safety: 
- Investigates incident and completed Incident/Accident reports in accordance with facility standards, policies, and procedures. 
- Demonstrates knowledge of emergency policies and procedures. 
- Performs all duties in a safe and efficient manner. 
- Follows established guidelines when using physical restraints/protective devices and equipment. 
- Demonstrates awareness of potential hazards and reports unsafe conditions to appropriate staff to maintain a safe environment for residents, families, and staff and other visitors. 
- Uses and disposes of needles and other sharps in accordance with CDC, OSHA, and facility guidelines, policies, and procedures. 

 Infection Control: 
- Demonstrates knowledge of infection and exposure control in all resident care to prevent the spread of disease and infection. 
- Adheres to strict facility infection control guidelines for handwashing and universal precautions, and bloodborne pathogens as evidenced by appropriate use of personal protective equipment. 
- Reports any and all exposures in accordance with OSHA and facility guidelines, policies and procedures.